GM PAC Keeps On Giving Before Congressional Hearings

The political action committee of a major auto maker continues to make contributions to members of Congress, at the same time they are facing Congressional hearings next month on the company's recalls of vehicles for safety issues.

The General Motors Company PACreported today it gave out $76,000 during February to members of Congress and political committees. The GM PAC raised $63,525 during February, raising their election cycle receipts to $896,884. This 14-month total already exceeds the full 24-month 2011-2012 cycle receipts of $755,178. GM CEO Mary Barra contributed $400 during February, and will probably reach the maximum $5,000 limit by the end of the year.

Prior to February, the PAC had given $497,750 to federal candidates and committees in the 2013-2014 cycle. Fifty-six per cent went to Republicans, and $44% went to Democrats. View Political MoneyLine's 2013-2014 GM PAC profile .

In the full 2011-2012 cycle, the GM PAC gave out $530,800 to federal candidates and committees, including 63% to Republicans and 37% to Democrats.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra stated today that she will probably testify before Congressional hearings into the ignition-switch problem that was announced last month, affecting over one million cars. This week GM also announced a 1.5 million recall of vehicles with brakes and airbag wiring issues.

U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller, D-W. Va., has asked Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who chairs the subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance, to convene a hearing on GM. Rep. Fred Upton, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said his committee would also probe GM actions.

The GM PAC gave $5,000 to Chairman Upton's leadership PAC in December 2013. The PAC also gave $4,000 to his campaign committee on March 28, 2013, and $1,000 on February 12, 2013.

The PAC also gave $5,000 to the leadership PAC of Majority Leader Eric Cantor on February 11, 2014, and $5,000 on September 27, 2013. The PAC also gave Cantor's campaign committee $5,000 on February 12, 2013.

The GM PAC gave $10,000 to the campaign committee of Speaker John Boehner, R-Oho, on February 12, 2013. The PAC also gave $5,000 to Boehner's leadership PAC on February 12, 2013.